Superheroes in the box office
What to look forward to this year
As we continue into the new year, a myriad of new movies are on the horizon. 2023 has the potential to be the year of the comic book movie, as both Marvel and DC have a lot in store due to COVID-19-related delays. Just a few of these up-and-coming films include:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The misfit group of heroes make their long-awaited return to the big screen on May 5, 2023. Originally slated for release in 2019 or 2020, the film’s production was pushed back due to Disney’s controversial firing of director James Gunn in 2018 and subsequent rehiring in 2019. This film will conclude the Guardian’s story as actors such as Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista reprise their roles as Starlord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Drax the Destroyer, respectively. This film will most notably be Bautista’s final project with Marvel, as the 54-year-old opted not to renew his contract once it expired, citing his desire to partake in more serious roles as he saw Drax as more of a comedic role.
The Flash
Despite the many controversies surrounding lead actor Ezra Miller, Warner Brothers is moving forward with the much-anticipated stand-alone film. Miller will reprise their role as Barry Allen/The Flash. Miller has appeared several times as The Flash in the DC Extended Universe, but this will be the first film focused entirely on the character. Development began in 2020 but was delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and director changes. The film’s ultimate director is Andy Muschietti and will follow The Flash as he deals with the consequences of traveling back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. The film is set to release on June 16, 2023.
Ant-Man: Quantumania
With release right around the corner on February 17, 2023, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Christie reprise their roles as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne/The Wasp in the third installment of the Ant-Man franchise. Directed by Peyton Reed, the duo continues to explore the quantum realm, which pits them against Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. This film, along with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, will be the next installments in phase five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This year has the potential to bring in many memorable superhero films, so whether you’re a die-hard Marvel fan, a DC enjoyer or just a casual viewer, there are good things in store for you.
By: Evan Majors